Pacemen Olly Stone and Azharullah led a Northants fightback on the second day against Leicestershire at Grace Road.

Stone took 3-68 and Azharullah 3-94 as the home side were bowled out for 305, giving them a first-innings lead of 54.

Opener Angus Robson made 75, including 14 fours, and Clint McKay and Ben Raine contributed 47 each to an eighth-wicket partnership of 87.

Northants wiped out the deficit to reach 105-2 at the close, 51 ahead, with Stephen Peters making exactly 50.

Having been bowled out for 251 and then seeing Leicestershire reach 102-1 on the opening day, the visitors needed to lift their performance and picking up five wickets before lunch was just what was needed.

Robson, who passed fifty 10 times last summer but only reached three figures once, was again unable to convert as David Willey had him caught at slip.

At 201-7, it looked like Leicestershire might struggle to get their noses in front on first innings, but McKay struck a six and five fours in an enterprising 48-ball knock before being caught at long-on, while Raine defied the Northants attack for over two hours.

However, their fielding let them down in the final session, with Peters dropped twice before finally falling to Charlie Shreck and Richard Levi once.

Leicestershire batsman Angus Robson:

"It will be an important first hour tomorrow. It is a strange pitch, one that you never really feel 'in' on, as has been shown by the scores.

"Clint and Ben played very well. It's going to help a lot all season to have someone of Clint's ability batting at number nine.

"It's probably a very even game, it could go either way, but if we can chase a target of around 250 we'll have a very good chance."